Ryugyong Hotel

After more than three decades of on-and-off construction, the sinister-looking Ryugyong Hotel in Pyongyang is finally poised to open in mid-2013. The pyramid-shaped structure, which rises 105 stories, will be the world’s tallest hotel — and one of the few that evokes an intergalactic warhead. Reto Wittwer, the chief executive of Kempinski Hotels, is over the moon that his firm won management rights. “This pyramid monster hotel will monopolize all the business in the city,” he said recently. “I said to myself, ‘We have to get this hotel if there is ever a chance, because this will become a money-printing machine if North Korea opens up.’”

The Alder building is a rip-off of a competition concept for the redevelopment of the Peak Tower in Hong Kong by my associate Tony Hackett. Royalty should be paid heavily to Tony Hackett.

Tony's scheme was brilliant this copy is a travesty.

The EMProject by Frank Gehry has to be seen as an enivornmental installation NOT architecture. It is photogenic offering exciting closeups, frame after frame. From a distance it is a clear example of a theoretical project in the discourse of De-Construction. For Seattle having the pig as the Mascot of the City, this installation shows the pig deconstructed inside-out

Unless the facilities inside the Ryugyong Hotel is extremely modern, I don't believe it will attract too many travellers. It looks sinister and is a bad feng shui example. It also reminds me of the missile launches the North Koreans made.

I must admit it was a surprise to see 3 Indian buildings in the list of 15, that's 20%! A bit of a bias there by TIME is it? Listings such as these are bound to receive comments and feedback on stuff missed out or not included. My comment is no different! Anyway, the new Titanic Belfast Museum building (http://www.titanicbelfast.com/Home.aspx) and the Millennium Building in Cardiff (http://www.wmc.org.uk/yourVisit/GettingHere/) could also be worthy inclusions.

These were fun- that basket building is a quirky trip, I love it that they decided to do it that way. And I love it that the Thai's so devoted to the wonderful elephants that defended them would design their's. Wonderful credit, thanks "TIME"!

The picture of the Aldar HQ building is horrible, because it doesn't describe the beauty of that building. By the way, I think that the idea of the triangular shape is copied by Norman Foster. To me, the ugliest buildings are the fish and the basket.

Frank Gehry is Frank Gehry. You might not like him, but he is absolutely a genius.

@unzinkable@lbpaulina What angle are you referring to? And what exhibit. It has changed exhibits several times since it was excreted onto the Seattle scene. Only Paul Allen and the Space Needle can keep it afloat. If you were less "I love it' or 'I love Franky' and researched his old stuff you may encounter the house with everything on it, including a chain link fence. There is no architectural idea there other than a brain dump of materials which is what the EMP is, a brain dump financed by a very egocentric rich guy. Interestingly enough Paul Allen has not asked Gehry to do another building, has he? It is an empty facade with difficult and annoying space inside with a shinny exterior, kind of like a fishing lure, perhaps that is why you 'LOVE' it? Perhaps you are being too emotional? Or is it you are working in Gerhry's office and this is extra credit for you? UBpaulina and I think sinkable.

@lbpaulina ubpaulinagehry? Or is this Frank in disguise again? In any case your comments bely an arrogant and superficial mentality that befits a gehry groupie. Like or dislike isn't the issue and your genius bar is set very, very low. A lie is a lie.

Gehry or Ghery, it doesn't matter. He is a rip off artist. He travels the architecture college jury critic circuit every year and that is where his 'New' and 'original' thoughts and ideas come from. Strip him of that and he is merely an accountant.

@somprize Can you provide a link to another building that looks anything like the Experience Music Project? You seem too emotional about this topic not to have the vested interest of which you accuse bpaulina.

@unzinkable@somprize I am not accusing ibpaulina of anything other than being foolish or a fake like you seem to be. Research the architecture schools Gerhy has been a visiting critic to and look at the student work submitted. You may have an aneurism from what you see due to your overly emotional attachment to [some part of] Gerhy. Don't forget to research the fellowship prize juries he was part of, you may find that of interest as well. He is a fake and you are too if you don't open your eyes, and you should probably close your mouth before you drowned.

@somprize, Take it easy with your personal attacks. This article is only talking about buildings, not looking like buildings. Its not even about Architecture. Frank Gehry had been a competent technician until he jumped on the band wagon with Hadid's craze for architectonic follies in the fashion world of visual excitation. Thankfully fashion has a short lifespan and Gehry is onto something else but has lost it. His failing attempts to design a memorial shows it .